‘Ali Roshan’ remanded till elephant trafficking case verdict delivered

The Colombo High Court has ordered to remand Samarappulige Niraj Roshan alias ‘Ali Roshan’ and seven others till the verdict of the case filed over alleged illegal possession of elephants is delivered, says Ada Derana reporter.

The case against ‘Ali Roshan’ was taken up before a three-judge bench consisting of Permanent High Court at Bar Judges Vikum Kaluarachchi, Dhammika Ganepola and Adithya Patabendi today (25).

The indictments filed by the Attorney General were handed over to the defendants during today’s hearing.

The defence attorneys had requested the court to release the suspects again under appropriate bail conditions as they were already granted bail previously.

The judge bench had inquired Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, if he approves granting bail to the suspects.

The deputy solicitor general informed the court that the Attorney General does not approve granting bail to the defendants, hence, requested the court to remand them until the hearing of the case concludes.

The three-judge bench then ruled that granting bail to the defendants requires the approval of the Attorney General as per the Article 450 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Citing that the suspects cannot be granted bail without the approval of the Attorney General, the judge bench ordered to remand them until the trial concludes.

The case is to be taken up again on the 2nd of August.

The Attorney General had then filed 27 charges against ‘Ali Roshan’ and six other defendants under the Offences against Public Property Act, with regard to the possession of four elephants without licenses and racketeering.

The other defendants of the case include Assistant Director of the Department of Wildlife Upali Padmasiri and a former clerk of the same department B. Sanjeewani.